Mycotoxin Testing for Cannabis
Of all the contaminants that may be present in cannabis, mycotoxins are among the most dangerous. These harmful substances must be screened for before cannabis makes its way to the dispensary shelf and home to consumers. Only after cannabis products pass mycotoxin testing, along with testing for many other contaminants, can the products be safely sold to the public.
What are mycotoxins, and how do they flourish?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxins produced by fungi that are commonly found in food. They can be a very dangerous source of contamination that are produced during fungal growth. These contaminants can affect cannabis and many other agricultural products. Mycotoxins are a known risk within the food safety industry, where there are long-set standards for acceptable levels of mycotoxins in consumable products.
Importantly, mycotoxins are carcinogens that have been linked to kidney and liver damage, reproductive disorders, diminished immune system function and suppression, cancer and death. They can also be very dangerous to any immunocompromised consumers, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.
Which mycotoxins are in cannabis plants?
The warm and humid cannabis cultivation conditions create an ideal environment for the growth of molds and fungi, many of which can't be seen by the naked eye. If the mold and/or fungi are allowed to proliferate, they can begin to produce chemical mycotoxins. Cannabis material can also be contaminated with mycotoxins during transportation, storage and processing.
Two common types of mycotoxins which can be found in cannabis are aflatoxins and ochratoxin A.
According to the National Cancer Institute, aflatoxins are a family of toxins found on agricultural crops like corn and peanuts, and they can also be found growing in soil, among other places. Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are the main fungi that produce aflatoxins. They can contaminate crops while they grow, when they are harvested, and in storage.
Ochratoxins are a naturally occurring foodborne mycotoxin found in many foods, including cereal grains, wine, coffee, and dried fruit. They come from many mold types, including penicillium.
The primary types of mycotoxins that threaten cannabis plants, and the health and safety of consumers, are aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 (group 1 carcinogens) and ochratoxin A (group 2b carcinogen). While around 20 aflatoxins have been identified by scientists so far, the four named here are considered the most dangerous to human health.
How analytical laboratories test for mycotoxins
According to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the New Jersey Department of Health, the preferred method for mycotoxin analysis and screening is the use of liquid chromatography (LC) with mass spectrometry (MS) detection, also known as LC MS. State authorities also accept high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as an alternative. True Labs for Cannabis uses LC/MS, because it is the most sensitive and advanced methodology and equipment available for this analysis.
New Jersey requirements for mycotoxin screening in cannabis
Many states, including New Jersey, require medical cannabis and adult-use cannabis to be tested for mycotoxins before it is sold to the public. In fact, nearly every state with a legal medical or adult-use cannabis program requires mycotoxin analysis among its testing requirements.
Any cannabis that fails a mycotoxin screening is not viable for sale, causing supply shortages and wasting cultivators’ time and money. It’s in the interest of these companies to ensure that their products are safe, clean, and harbor mycotoxin levels at or below the limits set by the state.
Testing for mycotoxins with True Labs for Cannabis
Given the serious health risks associated with exposure to mycotoxins, it is essential to test and analyze all cannabis products for these mycotoxins to ensure consumer safety. True Labs for Cannabis uses state-of-the-art technology to detect, identify, and quantify traces of these dangerous mycotoxins in cannabis.
When you partner with True Labs for Cannabis, you partner with a trusted third party analytical laboratory led by founders who are tirelessly committed to bringing the most innovative and cutting-edge technologies to benefit the cannabis products you bring to market.
Here’s what else True Labs for Cannabis brings to the table:
Woman-owned. True Labs for Cannabis is proud of the small role we play to close the gender gap in cannabis industry participation at the founders’ level.
Above and beyond current regulations. The testing conducted at our northern New Jersey facility does not settle for state minimums. Evolution and innovation are at the heart of what we do, so we stay several steps ahead of minimum standards set by regulatory bodies.
100% dedicated to cannabis. True Labs for Cannabis is the one of the first analytical laboratories in New Jersey to build a cannabis and hemp-only lab from the ground up. This allows us to focus on the many developments and advancements being made in this industry, its products, and its testing standards. That means more advanced techniques, better results, and increased consumer trust.